Controlling the Arduino Yún with TalkBack

The Arduino Yún is a very powerful, networkable Arduino combining the ease of Arduino programming with an additional processor, an Atheros AR9331, running Linux and the OpenWrt wireless stack. Programming the 32U4 via USB is identical to the Arduino Leonardo. Once the Arduino Yún is connected to Wi-Fi, the Arduino has full access to ThingSpeak Cloud Services and the TalkBack App and API. This tutorial will walk you through the process of setting up the Arduino Yún on the Wi-Fi network and control the Arduino Yún using the TalkBack App.

Step 1 – Connect Arduino Yún to Wi-Fi

First you need to power the Arduino Yún. Connect the Arduino Yún to your computer with a Micro-B USB cable. This USB cable provides power and data to the board.

Once powered up, the Arduino Yún will broadcast a Wi-Fi network called, “ArduinoYun-XXXXXXXXXXXX”. Connect to this Wi-Fi Network using a laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Open a web browser and go to, the following site address: http://arduino.local or 192.168.240.1 – this will bring up the Arduino Yún Wi-Fi Configuration. Enter the password of “arduino” to start the setup. Click Configure. Under the Wireless Parameters section, enter your Wi-Fi network name (SSID), network encryption type, and password. This wi-Fi information is for the Wi-Fi network that you want the Arduino Yún to connect to. Once the information is entered, press “Configure & Restart” to have the Arduino Yún connect to the specified Wi-Fi network.

Step 4 – Program the Arduino Yún with the TalkBack App

Change the TalkBack API Key to the TalkBack API Key created in the previous step

Change the TalkBack ID to the TalkBack ID created in the previous step

Select Tools -> Board -> Arduino Yún

Select Tools -> Port -> (Select the Arduino Yún COM Port)

Upload the sketch to your Arduino Yún

Open the Serial Monitor

Step 5 – Control the Arduino Yún with TalkBack

Enter the command “TURN_ON” into the TalkBack

Enter the command “TURN_OFF” into the TalkBack

The Arduino Yún will periodically check the TalkBack to see if a command is queued up. If the command is “TURN_ON” the Arduino’s on-board LED (on GPIO 13) will light up. If the command is “TURN_OFF” the Arduino’s on-board LED will turn off. The TalkBack commands can be entered on ThingSpeak or via the TalkBack API.

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5 thoughts on “Controlling the Arduino Yún with TalkBack”

I love my Arduino Yun! Arduino, WiFi, Linux and RESTDuino web services all rolled into one! Finally, all of my microcontrollers don’t have to be tethered to my router via ethernet cables. Now they can hide all over the house where my wife can’t find them! The new TalkBack app is a great enhancement to ThingSpeak. Now, all of the devices that should normally be asleep can actually sleep. No more microcontrollers tethered to wall warts, either! TalkBack is great for battery powered devices. Great job, ThingSpeak!